Description
Sizzling bbq bacon cheeseburger casserole delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen to the dinner table. Packed with savory layers of ground beef, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, this hearty dish guarantees smiles around your family’s plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
Cheese and Sauce:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Base and Topping:
- 1 cup cooked macaroni
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook 1 lb ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the beef and stir ½ cup BBQ sauce into the meat, mixing thoroughly.
- Cook 1 cup macaroni according to package directions, then drain completely.
- Combine the cooked macaroni and seasoned beef in your prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese over the beef and pasta mixture.
- Top the casserole with ¼ cup breadcrumbs for a crispy layer.
- Bake uncovered at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until the edges become golden and bubbly.
- Remove the casserole and immediately scatter 6 crumbled bacon slices across the top.
- Add the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the bacon.
- Return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes until cheese melts completely.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to help it set.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and keep the casserole from becoming too oily.
- Experiment with different BBQ sauce flavors like smoky, sweet, or spicy to customize the dish’s taste profile.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs for gluten-free panko or crushed gluten-free crackers.
- If watching calories, use turkey bacon and reduced-fat cheese to make the casserole a bit lighter without sacrificing flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg